Tag-stringing machine



L. A. McGRATH.

TAG STRINGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0506,1918.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

\nvenmor.

w L. A. McGRATH. TAG STRINGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6. 1918.

, Patented Aug. 24, 1920 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

inventor. LQwTenc@A.cf-1Tmih Patented Aug. 24, 192Q.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

\nvenior.

L. A. IVICGRATH.

TAG STRINGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, I918.

m. m S 94 W crJ g W M M s 2 .d4 WQS 6 n m ,n... 0 m w P a LY b UNITED STATES PATENT omce- LAWRENCE A. MOGRATH, OF WIN'IHBOP, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF FOUR- SIXTEENTHS 'IO MICHAEL E. CUNNINGHAM, OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS, AND TWO-SIXTEENTHS T0 WILLIAM H. DENNEHY, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHU- sn'rrs; I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

Application filed December 6, 1918. Serial No.265,605.

To all whom it hwy concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE A. Mo-

GRa'rH, 'a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Winthrop, county ofSufi'olk, State 'of Massachusetts, have invented an Imment adapted to engage a loop of string and carry said loop through the eye of the tag and around the end of the tag, a loop re-- tainer to receive the loop of the string from the threading implement, and astringing.

element adapted to enter the loop and draw the ends of the string therethrough.

The present invention has for its objects to provide an improvement in the manner of handling the strlng during the stringing operation, a novel means for discharging the tag which may also be used to feed the successive tags of a gang of tags into proper positionto be strung, and other improvements, all as will beh'ereina'fter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims. f

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section onsubstan-.

tially the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the controlling means for the stringing gripper;-

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary views somewhat in the nature of diagrams showing the various steps in the operationef stringing the tag;

Fig. 9 is a plan view ofthe parts shownin Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 8; J

Fig. 11 is a detail 0 crating the rock shaft 44:;

f the devices forop- Fig. 12 is a detail of the means for opcrating the threader;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 1313, Fig. 2.-

efoi'e describing the machine in detail it will be helpful to refer briefly to the manner in which the tag is strung as illustrated 3 in Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive. The tag to be strung-is shown at 1, it being provided with the usual eye 2 through which the string is .to be inserted. The length of string with means of a string presenter 7, said presenter 7 carrying the bight in the string 3 into such a position that when thethreading implement 5 is rotated about a horizontal axis the notch 6 of said implement will engage the bight of the-string and carry it through the eye 2 of the tagandaround the end of the tag, as shown in Fig. 6. Situated beneath the tag support 1' is a string-guiding block 8 having a curved under surface 9 which.

corresponds to the curvature of the threading implement 5. Asthe string 3 is carried through the eye of the tag .and around the end of the tag, it is also passed underneath the curved surface 9 which acts as a'string-. guiding surface. The threading implement 5 has an oscillatory motion, and when it has completed its forward movementinto the position shown in Fig. 6 thereby to carry the loop of the string through'the eye and gagged b a loop retainer .10 which moves orwar y' to enter the loop of the string.

around the end of the tag, said loop is en--- At this time the threading implement 5 is the arrangement is such that only a relatively small portion of the string 3 is inserted through the eye of the tag, the length which is thus inserted being only that necessary to pass around the string-guiding block. As a result, when the stringing grippers 14 enter the loop, they engage the string at' a considerable distance from the ends, so that the ends of the string remain in the loop as the grippers move backw'ardly to tighten the loop, as seen in Fig. 4 of said patent.

My present invention contemplates a con-\ struction in which the string is so manipulated that the grippers, while .operating close to the tag, will engage the ends of the string, thus avoiding any possibility that said ends will remain in the loop as the latter is tightened. This end is accomplished by means which operates after theloop of string has been inserted throughthe eye of the tag to draw through said eye the greater I portionof the string thereby to bring the ends of the string into a position relatively close to the tag and into position to be seized by the grippers 14.

I also preferably employ a string-controlling device situated immediately above the tag when the latter is in stringing position and which is provided with an aperture through which the string is drawn as it is threaded through the eye of the tag, said device operating to apply atension to the string and also serving'to hold the ends of the string in position to be 'graspedby the grippers. The table 4 is mounted so that it can move vertically and means are provided to lower it after the string has been inserted through the eye of the tag thereby to separate it and the tag from the stringcontrolling device and thus provide suflicient room for the grippers 14-to-operate. By means of this construction a relatively small threader can be employed. The stringcontrolling device is in the nature of a plate 200 which is situated directly above the table 4. and is provided with an aperture QOl through which the. threading implement 5 passes during its threading movement. The loop of string is thus carried through the aperture 201 and through the eye of the tag.

In drawing the greater portion of the" 'mally occupies a notch 13 formed therein this occurring after the string has been length of string through the eye ofthe tag after the threading implement 5 has been retracted, I employ a pull-down 12 which'is associated with theblock 8 and which nor- 7 0 so that when the string is passed around the block, as shown in Fig. 6, it is also carried beneath the pull-d0wn. As stated above,'the table 4 is lowered into the position shown in Fig, 7 after the string has been threaded through the eye of the tag, and during this movement the pull-down moves downwardly .with it. lowered position shown in Fig. 7 ,the pull- After the table has reached its down has a further downward movement also as shown in Fig. 7, thus operating to draw through the eye of the tag the greater portion of the string so that the ends 15 of the string will be brought about to the string-controlling plate 200. The friction of the string against the walls of the aperture 201 provides sufficient tension to hold the string in its proper position. 'After the table has been lowered and the pull-down is operated, as shown in Fig. 7, the grippers 14 are moved forwardly through the loop heldby the loop retainer and between the stringcontrolling device 200 and the lowered table 4, said grippers operating toseize the ends of the string directly beneath the plate'QOO. The grippers are then moved backwardly thereby to draw the ends of the string through the loop thereof and because the string is seized immediately at its ends, there is no danger that the ends of the string will be retained in the loop during such backward movement. 9

Situated beneath the table is a verticallyextending tag-discharging pin 11 which is so positioned that when the table with the tag thereon is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 7, the upper end of the pin will be inserted through the eye of the tag, a

drawn through said eye. During the backward movement of the grippers 14, the tagdischarging pin 11 is moved laterally, such movement together with the backward movement of the grippers serving to tighten the loop. The lateral movement of the pin 11 also serves to discharge the tag from the table.

The above-described operative parts and the mechanism for actuating them are mounted upon a suitable frame 18, and in the present machine said parts derive their movement from a cam element or elements mounted on a cam shaft 19 which is journaled in said frame and may be driven by any suitable means. I have herein shown said shaft as provided with a belt pulley 20 to receive a driving belt and which may be clutched to or unclutched from the shaft by a suitable clutch (not shown). The threading implement 5 is of the general type a rack 23 which is mounted for'vertical reciprocation in suitable guides 24, such reconnected to the length of string is i have not deemed ciprocation of the rack operating to oscillate the shaft 21. Said shaft has a spiral cam rib 25 thereon which operates between two guides 26 so that as the shaft is oscillated, it will be given a ment. The pitch of the spiral rib 25 is the same as that of the threading implement 5, and with this arrangement the shaft will be advanced longitudinally as said threading implement passes through the eye of the tag so that the. helical shape of the threading implement will not disturb the position of the tag. I

The rack 23 derives its a cam groove 26 27 mounted on being connected by means of a link 28 to one end of a lever. 29 which is pivoted to the frame at 30 saitl lever havin a roll 3 reciprocation from .thereon operating in the cam groove 26.-

.The string presenter 7 which presents a loop of the string a construction quite similar to that illustratedin my above-mentioned patent. Saidpresenter is in the form of a lever or arm having a notched head 32 and pivotally mounted on a'stud 33 extending from the frame. Said .pr'esenter has an arm 34 rigid therewith which is provided with a pin 35 that engages a face cam 36 mounted on the cam shaft 19, said roll being held against the cam by means of a spring 37 which is string presenter 7. A delivered to the string presenter by means similar to that shown in my above-mentioned patent and which comprises 'a shaft 39 which journaled in the head a string-measuring arm 38 carried by entis employed for cutting 0d .from the source-of supply a proper length of string at each rotation of the string-measuring arm '33. Since this string-measuring and sev-v ering mechanism issim1lar to that lllllS- .trated in my above-mentioned patent an forms no part of the present invention,

it necessary to illustrate it and describe it more in detail. It is sufficient to say that at each rotation of the ricd through the longitudinal moveformed in a'cam element the camshaft 19, said rack 3 to the implement 5 has to be retracted at the 'is fast on the rock-sha d .to an elbow-lever 4.9 that beneath the notchcd'head When the loop ofthe string has been careye of the tag and around the end of said tag, as shown in Fig. 6, the loop retainer 10 is moved into the loop of string carried in the notch 6 thereby to retain said loop while the threader 5 is re? tracted into the. position as stated above, and as shown in Fig. 5. This loop ree tainer 10 is in the for'm of an arm pivotally. mounted on the stud 33, said arm having an extension 90 provided with a roll 91 which is acted upon by a face cam 92 fast on the cam shaft. A pulling spring. 93 holds the roll 91 in engagement with the face cam. This cam is timed to move the loop retainer 10 forwardly at the proper loop of the string and retain said string while the threader moves back to'its initial position and also to cause said loop retainer proper time in the cycle of operations to theends 15 of the string are being drawn therethrough.

' After the string 3 has been carried through the eye 2 of the tag and around the end thereof, as shown in Fig. 6, the table l with the string-guiding block 8 is lowered into the position shown in Fig. 7 thereby to separate the tag from the string-controlling device 200 sufficiently to provide room for the forward movement of the stringing implement 14. To permit this operation'said table is carried by an arm 43 which is loosely pivoted on a rock-shaft 44 so that said arm as can be moved up and down.

it will be remembered block 8 is provided with is normally received a pull-down member 12 that operates to draw a portion of the string through the eye of a tag. A suitable connection is provided between the arm 43 and the actuating mechanism for this pull-down 12 so that themovement of the arm as is controlled by the pull-down. This pull-down member 12 is in the form of a pin or pro ection extending laterally from a lever 47 that 44:. This pull-down arm 4:7 ispivotally connected by a link 4:8 is pivoted to the frame at 50, one arm of said elbow-lever having the slot 51 therein in which is received a pin 53 carried by an extension 52 extending from and rigid with the arm 4:3. The slot 51 that the guiding drop the loop when a recess 13 in which centric with the pivotal point 50 and is also swings downwardly 81. This cam provided with the cam portion 45 which has an angular relation to the portion 54. When the table is in its elevated position and during the movement of the threader 5, the pin 53 willbe in the end of the cam portion 45 ofthe slot. Asthe pull-down lever 47 thereby turning the elbow-lever 49, the rst or initial downward movement of the elbow-lever operates through the cam portion. 45 of the slot'to raise the pin 53 and thereby lower the arm 43. When the pin 53 reaches the eccentric portion 54 of the slot, then durin further swinging movement of the elbow-l evcr, the arm 43 will be held stationary. The downward movement of the therefore, operates first to swing the table 4 downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 7, and then to hold the table in this position while the pull-dew lever continues its movement. g

This downward movement of the arm or lever 47 occurs while the loop or bight of the string 3 is still retained on the loop retainer 10. Such downward movement of the pulldown arm draws the greater portion of the string through the eye of the tag, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby leaving relatively short string ends 15 above the tag. Theplate 2 0 serves to hold such string ends in postition to be grasped by the stringing implement 14..

The rock-shaft 44 is actuated from a cam path80 formed in the face of a cam member path 80 acts onthe upper end pivoted to the frame at 104, the being connected by of a lever 82 lower end of said lever membered, is also fast to the rock-shaft, and hence said pull-down arm will receive its movement from the cam path 80 through the connections 82, 84, ,85.

The stringing grippers 14 which enter the loop of the string 3 while it is retained on the loop retainer 10,and seize the ends 1.5 of the string and draw said ends through said loop, are carried by a slide 54 which is slidably mounted upon the arm 43. These grippers comprise the two jaws 16 and 17 the jaw 16 being rigid with the slide 54, and the jaw 17 being pivoted to the jaw 16 at 55. The jaw 17 is provided with the rearward extension 56 whiehis acted upon by a spring 57 that tends to keep thejaws closed. The slide 54 is moved forwardly when the parts are in'the position shown in Fig. 7, thereby to carry both jaws through the loop or bight of the string S'Which is retained by the loop retainer 10. The jaws are closed during the first part of the forward movement and until after they have entered the loop. During the final part of their forward movement-they are opened to receive the ends 15 of the pull-down lever 47,

string, as seen in Fig. 9, and they are then closed onto the stringends' 15, thereby to gripthe latter. This opening andclosing of the jaws is accomplished by a cam plate 58 whichis'plvoted at 50 to a plate or support 60 carried by the arm 43 and which is adapted to have engagement with a pin 61 at :the end of the arm 56. During the forward movement of the slide 54, said pin.6l will engage the face 62 of the plate 58,- and as said pin slides over this inclined -face,-'the jaws will be opened. At the end of the forward movement the pin 61 wipes by the lefthand end of the plate 58 and the spring 57 closes the j awsonto the string ends 15. The

- slide 54 is then withdrawn into the position shown in Fig. 8 thereby to draw the string ends 15 through the loopof the string 3, and during this backward movement, the pin 61 will engage the face 63 of the plate 58, but because said vplate is'pivotally mounted it will yield backwardly during the return movement of the grippers, thus preventing the grippers from being opened to release the string. The plate 58 is provided with a stop projection 64 which operates .in. a slot 65 formed in the plate 60, oneiend of the slot operating as a stop to prevent the plate from movement during the forward movement of the slide. i

As the slide 54 is retracted, the pin 61' engages a cam plate 66 thereby opening the jaws 16, 17 to release the string ends.

The cam plate 66 is adjustably sustained on the plate 60 so as to provide for opening the jaws at the desired point in their backward movement. The proper time for releasing the string will depend somewhat upon the size of the tag belng strung, and the extent to which it is desired to tighten the loop, etc. i i

The slide 54 derives its movement from acam path 100 formed in a cam member 101 fast on the cam-shaft 10. This cam path acts on a follower 102 on the upper end of a lever103 pivoted to the frame at 104, the j lower end of said lever being connected by a link 105 to an arm 106 extending from a rocker orhub 107 that is loosely mounted on the rock shaft44. Said hub 107 has another arm 108 extending therefrom which is connected to the slide by a link 109.

It will be remembered that the lowering movement of the table 4 into the positionshown in Fig.7 causes the tag to be impaled on the pin 11. Means are provided for shifting this pin 11 laterally during the return movement of the grippers 14, and since the strung tag is impaled on the pin, the lateral movement of the pin will carry the tag laterally on the table 4. This lateral movement of the strung tag together with the backward movement of the grippers 14 operatesto tighten'the. loop.

The device herein shown is so constructed braces "the edge of the gang tags and guides the latter in their movement over the table.

that it can be used to string either separate tags or a plurality of connected tags, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and which are referred to in the trade as gang tags. l/Vhere the device is-used for stringing gang tags, the tag-discharging 'pin 11 is given a lateral movement in such a direction and of such an amplitude that the operation of carrying the strung tag out of position will bring the next succeeding tag of the gang into proper position to be strung. The pin 11 thus operates both as a tag-discharging in and as a tag-feeding pin.

The table 41 is shown as provided at its rear end with a guiding lip 160 which em- In order that the pin 11 may operate to feed the tags properly, it is necessary that it should have a movement in a right line parallel with the line of feeding movement of the tags. In the construction herein shown, said pin is mounted on the end of an arm 67 which is pivoted on a stud 68 and which has rigid therewith another arm 69 which extends at right angles thereto and is connected by a link 70 to one end of an elbowlever 71 pivoted to the frame at 72. The other arm of this elbow-lever 71 is connected by a link 73'to a lever 74 that is pivoted to the frame at 75 and is provided with a roll 76 which operates in a cam groove 26. Said cam groove thus performs the double function of actuating the threader and also swinging the arm 67.

In order that the pin 11 may have a right line movement, I propose to make the arm 67 telescopic, it comprising the end section 161 which carries the pin lland which telescopes over the portion 162 of the other section. The portion 162 is provided with a pin 163 operating in a slot in the section 161 for the purpose of preventing the outer section from turning on the inner section. The telescopic section 161 is also provided with a vertical pin 164 operating ina groove 165 formed in a block 166 which is detachably secured to the extension 167 of the frame 18. The groove 165 is a straight groove and extends parallel to the line of the gang tags. With this construction it will be apparent that as the arm 67 swings about its pivot 68,

the outer end 161 thereof will be moved in a straight line and the tag-discharging pin, therefore, will advance the gang tags in a direction to bring the next unstrung tag into proper'position to be strung.

Since tags are made in different sizes it is important that the swinging movement of the pin 11 should be properly ad usted so that it will feed the tags correctly. To provide for/this I propose to employ an adjust-- "able connection between the arm 69 and the. link 70. The link 70 is shown as forked at its end and the arm 69 is received between stringing element 14.

the branches of the fork, said arm being connected to the link by a removable pin The arm 69 is provided with a plu-j rality of apertures 171 into any one of which the pin 170 may be inserted. In this way the effective length of the arm 169 may be adjusted and the pin 11 may be given an amplitude of movement which is just sufficient to correspond to the size of tags being strung.

It will be noted use the pin 11 is not inserted through the eye of the tag until after tlre string has been drawn through said. eye

and that the lateral movement of the pin operates to carry the strung tag out of tagstringing position and into position to be discharged from the platform- Where the tags are in gang formation this tag-discharging movement of the pin 11 can be made use of to feed the successive unstrung tags into position to be strung, as above described.

removed from the support 167 and the two 1 sections of the arm 67 maybe clamped together by means of a set screw. In this case the pin 11 would swing in the are of a circle and the tag would be discharged in the manner shown in Fig. 10. When the pin ll'reaches the outer limit. of its movement the table a is raised thereby to lift the strung tag off from the pin and the pin then returns to a position beneath the tag which is being strung ready to receive said tag when the table is againlowered.

One advantage which is gamed by employing the vertically-movable.tag-supporting table 4 is that it permits the use of a relatively small threading implement 5 because the vertical movement 'of the table separates it from the threading implement sufliciently to permit the operation of the The machine hereinillustrated is compact in structure and is adapted for rapid operation, and while I haveillustrated a selected embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the constructional features shown.

By the term string as herein used, I intend to cover anything in the cord or wire line which might be used for this purpose, and hence the term string is used as illustrative rather than as limiting the use of l the apparatus.

2. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with means to insert a loop of string through the eye of a tag and around the end thereof, a loop retainer to engage said loop, a pull-down device to act on the string between the tag and,the loop retainer and draw an added length of string throu h the eye of the tag, and means to draw t e ends of the string through the loop thereof.

v 3. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with a block having a curved stringguiding surface, of means to insert a loop of'thr'ead throu h the eye of a tag and around said sur ace, means to act on the string that passes around said string-guiding surface thereby to draw an added length of string through the eye of the tag, and means to draw the ends of the string through said loop.

4. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination vwith a tag support having associated therewith a curved string-guiding surface, of means to insert a loop of string through the eye of'a tag and carry it around said surface, a loop retainer to engage said loop, a pull-down to act on the portion of the string passing around the string-guiding surface thereby to draw an added length of string through the eye of the tag, and means to draw the ends of the string through the loop thereof.

5, In a tag-stringing machine, the com bination with tag-supporting means comprising a string-guiding member having a notch, of means to insert a loop of string through the eye of a tag and carry it around said string-guidingmember, a loop retainer to engage said loop, a pull-down normally occupying said notch, means to actuate the;

' pull-down to draw an added length of string through the eye of the tag,'and means to draw the ends of the string through the loop thereof.

6. In a tag-stringing machine, the comcombination with tag-supporting means, of

- means to insert a loop of string through'the eye of thetag, a tag-discharging pin, means to cause said pin to enter the eye of thetag and then to move laterally to discharge the tag from the tag-supporting means, and means to draw the end of the string through the loop thereof. I

7. In a"ta'g-stringing machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of

.,means to insert a loop of string through the eye of the tag, a tag-discharging pin, means to cause said pin to .enter the eye of the tag--v :and then to move laterally to 'discharge the tag from ,the tag-supporting means, and

means to draw the end of the string through the loop thereof as the tag is being discharge i 8. In a tag stringing machine, the combination with means for supporting a tag,

of means to insert a loop of string through the eye of the tag, a tag-discharging pin, means operating to impale the tag on said pin, means to draw. the ends of the string through the loop thereof, and means to move i said pin laterally thereby to discharge the tag from the tag-supporting means.

9. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of means to insert a loop of string through the v eye of the tag, a pinsituated beneath the tag, means to lower the tag-supporting means to cause said tag tobe impaled on said pin, means to draw the ends of the string through the loop thereof, and means to move said pin laterally thereby to discharge the tag from the supporting means.

10. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of

means to insert a loop of string through the eyeof the tag, a tag-discharging pin situated beneaththe supporting means and in line with the eye of the tag, means to lower the supporting means to cause said pin to. be inserted through the eye of the tag,

means to draw the ends of the strlng through the loop thereof, and means to move the pin laterally.

11. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of

means to insert a loop of string through the eye of the tag, a tag-discharging pin sit- 1 uated beneath the supporting means and in line with the eye of the tag, means to lower the supporting means to cause said pinto be inserted through the, eye of the tag, means to draw the ends of the string through the loop thereof, and means to give the pin a lateral movement while the ends of the string thereof. I

12. In a machine for stringing tags, the combination with tag-supporting means, of

a threader to carrya loop of string through the eye of the tag, a loop retainer to engage sa'id loop, a pull-down acting on-the string between the tag and the'loop retainer to draw an added lengththrough the eye of the tag, means to draw the ends of the string through the loop thereof, a cam shaft, and

cam mechanism thereon for operating all of said means. I

13. In a tag-stringing machine, the com-, bineation with tag-supporting means, of a thr a are being drawn" through theloop 11-5 cling implement to insert,a loop of bination with a tag-supporting table, of an string through the eye of atag, string loop.

oscillatory threading implement adapted to insert a loop of string through the eyeof a tag and around the end thereof, means to lower the table thereby to separate it from the threading implement ,after a 100 of string has thus been inserted, a stringing device, and means to move it through the loop and into position between the table and threading implement thereby to seize the ends of the string and then to retract it to draw the ends through said loop.

15. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with a tag-supporting table, of a threading implement to insert a loop of controlling means situated between the threading implement and-table, and means to draw the ends of the string through said 16. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with a tag-supporting table, of a threading implement to insert a loop of string through the eye of atag, means to draw the ends of the string through said loop, and means to apply a tension to the string between thetable and the threading implement.

17 In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with a tag-supporting table, of a threading implement to insert a loop of string through the eye of a tag, means to draw the ends of the string through said loop, and a plate situated between the threading implement and table and having an aperture through whichthe string is inserted. i i

18. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with a tag-supporting table, of a threading implement to insert a loop of string through the-eye of a tag, a plate situated between the threading implement and table and having an aperture through which said implement carries the string, means to separate the table from the plate, and stringing grippers adapted to enter the Space between the table and plate and seize the endsof the string and draw said ends through the loop.

- 19. In a tag-stringing machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of a threading implement to insert a loop of string through the eye of a tag, means to separate said tag-supporting means and threading implement after a loop of strlng has been inserted through the eye of the tag, means to draw an added length of string through the eye of the tag, a stringing device, and means to operate it to draw the ends of the string through the loop. r, 20. In a tag-stringing-machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of

21. In a tag-stringing machine, the com- 30 1 bination with tag'supporting ,means, of means to insert a loop of string through the eye of the tag, a tag-discharging pin, means to cause said pin to enter the eye of the tag after the string has been inserted therethrough, means to move the pin laterally to removethe .tag from stringing position. 22. Ina tag-stringing machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of means to insert a loop of string through the eye of the tag, a tag-discharging pin, means i to cause said pin to enter the eye of the tag after the string has been inserted therethrough, and means to move the pin laterally a distance equal to the width of. the tag whereby when gang tags are being strung, the strung tag is. removed from stringing position and the next tag brought into position to be strung.

23. In a machine for stringing gang tags, the combination with tag-supporting means, of means to insert a loop of string through the eye of a tag, a combined tag-discharging and feeding pin, meansito cause said pin to enter the eyeof the strung tag and 05 then to move laterallythereby to remove the strung tag from stringing position and bring the next tag into position to be strung. i

24. "In atag-stringing machine, the combination with tag-supporting means, of means to insert a loop'of string through the eye of the tag, a tag-discharging pin, means to cause said pin to enter the eye of the strung tag, means for drawingthe ends of the string through the loop of string,and

means for. moving the pin laterally to rei move the tag from stringing position, said Z latter means being adjustable so that the lateral movement may be equal to'the width of the tag whereby said pin may bense'd for feeding gang tags.

25. In a tag-stringing machine,the combination with tag-supporting means, of means to insert a loop of string throughthe eye of'atag, a pair of stringing grippers, means to carry said grippers through the loop of string and to cause them to seize the ends of the stringand then to draw said] ends nhrough said 1oop,'-thereby stringing y the tag, and adjustable means for opening 27. In a tag-stringing machine, the com the grippers when the tag is strung. bination with means to insert a loop of 10 26. In a tag-stringing machine, the comstring through the eye of the tagin two 'bination with means to insert a loop of stages, and means to draw the ends of the 5 string through the eye of a tag, of other string through said 100p.

means to draw an added length of string In testimony whereof, I have signed my through said eye, and means to pass the name to this s ecification.

ends of thestring through thedoop. LA RENCE A. MCGRATH. 

